Mindful Heart Astrology: Pisces

The 12th sign of our Zodiac is Pisces. Aptly represented by a glyph depicting two fish swimming in opposite directions, this is the third of our Water signs. The final sign in the Zodiac cycle, Pisces signifies the end of a phase and synthesizes the characteristics of the preceding eleven signs.

A water sign, Pisces has an emotional or strong feeling quality to it. This sensitivity can show up in one of two ways. There are those who keep a great deal hidden inside, perhaps focused on their inner journey or intent on maintaining their privacy. These folks are often perceived as shy and reticent since, for them, things percolate and are reflected upon below the surface. Yet there are others who cannot keep their emotions contained and thus tend to be more expressive, often “wearing their hearts on their sleeve” and gravitating towards causes where they see others in pain.

Feelings define the Pisces native. Their innate sensitivity means that they experience what they feel themselves in addition to absorbing the feelings of those around them and they can be incredibly affected by their joys and sorrows. Often these feelings are synthesized within and it can become difficult for Pisces to discern where their own feelings end and the feelings of others begin. The result may be a temporary sense of confusion or a tendency towards escapism.

Highly intuitive and often psychic, Pisces is attuned to the energy at play in a group. Undercurrents which may not be apparent to anyone else may be felt by them very intensely. Their instincts are quite reliable…they tend to see beneath the surface and understand what is really going on, enabling them to develop a good understanding of people. Pisces natives can be very loyal and often make lifelong friendships. They will go out of their way to help a friend, and whatever the matter, a Pisces friend will suffer through it with you and consider your problem as their own until it is resolved. There is a lighter side to these folks as well and they are often fun to be around. They like adventure, social events and new situations, completely reflecting the Jupiterian side of the sign.

Pisceans are compassionate, kind and generous. They are geared towards helping others and frequently put the needs of those people and causes ahead of their own. While there is a self-sacrificing quality to this they find great satisfaction in these endeavours and it is what makes them feel useful. The self-worth of a Piscean is often directly related to how much of a difference they make for others. There is the capacity for these folks to be good leaders, mentors and role models as people tend to look up to them. Pisceans are quite talented at anything which relates to their feeling nature. Many use their creative talents, compassion and understanding of people in inspirational ways. They will stand up for a cause they believe in and are particularly hard-working for issues they support.

The spiritually oriented Pisces is often faced with a sense of idealism. At times the inner conflict of trying to reconcile “what is” with how they think things “should be” blurs the lines between fact and fantasy. For some this manifests in a predilection towards melancholy or depression, and perhaps even a tendency towards pessimism and lethargy. To regain a sense of inner calm they may retreat from their day-to-day lives by taking a “time out” to reflect or re-energize, and some turn towards alternative methods of escapism.

There are countless examples throughout history of Pisces natives immersing themselves in creative endeavours.  Artists such as Michaelangelo and Renoir expressed themselves through extraordinary paintings. Musicians like Jon Bon Jovi and Sir Elton John are not only talented artists but active philanthropists who represent the sensitivity and charitable nature of the sign. Other creative avenues such as acting, writing, and photography also count a significant number of Pisceans among them. Whether the endeavours and actions of these people simply reflect a creative, artistic and productive outlet for their feeling nature, or include a degree of escapism, I suspect only they themselves can appropriately comment.

Whether Pisces Sun, Moon or Ascendant, these individuals can be challenging to understand. Their feelings and the reasons behind their decisions and behaviour are not always obvious. Pisces is ruled by the two planets Jupiter and Neptune, making this sign somewhat complex and often misunderstood. The qualities of its Rulers seem to combine in a way that blends the optimism, higher mind and benevolence of Jupiter with the spirituality, compassion, empathy and creativity of Neptune. How these traits manifest in a person’s life depends upon where and in which signs the planets are situated in the Natal chart.

The natural house for Pisces is the 12th, the house of that which is unseen. It is quite the realm of mystery, also known as the house of Secrets, Karma, the Collective Soul, Selfless Social Service, Hidden Talents, and Hidden Friends and Enemies. The many labels are indicative of the complex nature of the 12th House and the sign of Pisces itself. I have also heard it described as the “Closet of the Soul” which certainly reflects the nature of things hidden and the unconscious.

See where Pisces is in your chart and notice which, if any, planets reside there. What does it suggest about the hidden side of your nature? Does it speak to the area of life where you focus your compassion and creativity, or one in which you may have some hidden talents? Consider whether you are using these gifts to the extent that you could, or would like to. After all, the world could certainly benefit from a little more Pisces compassion and creativity, don’t you think?

~ Jayne Logan